uptake

[uhp-teyk]

noun

1. apprehension; understanding or comprehension; mental grasp.

   quick on the uptake.

2. an act or instance of taking up; a lifting.

   the uptake of fertilizer by machines.

3. Also called take-up. Machinery.,  a pipe or passage leading upward from below, as for conducting smoke or a current of air.

4. Physiology.,  absorption.

uptake

/ ˈʌpˌteɪk /

noun

1. a pipe, shaft, etc, that is used to convey smoke or gases, esp one that connects a furnace to a chimney

2. mining another term for upcast

3. taking up or lifting up

4. the act of accepting or taking up something on offer or available

5. informal,  quick to understand or learn

6. informal,  slow to understand or learn

Word History and Origins

Origin of uptake¹

1810–20; up- + take; compare take-up

Idioms and Phrases

see on the uptake.

Example Sentences

Declining uptake in the MMR jab, which protects against measles, mumps and rubella, has recently sparked concern among medics.

From BBC

Given how starved Mumbai's current airport is for capacity, analysts expect strong uptake for NMIA's parking slots from airlines looking to launch new routes.

From BBC

Both walk-in and booked flu vaccine appointments will be available as part of the NHS drive to increase vaccine uptake nationally.

From BBC

To be fair, a lot of us have been slow on the uptake when it comes to understanding why so many young men seem drawn to the obvious loneliness and disconnection of chronically online lives.

From Los Angeles Times

The government said there was high uptake from children and those at high risk, but "poor uptake from adults right across the board".

From BBC

Related Words

• awareness 
• grasp 
• insight 
• intelligence 
• judgment 
• knowledge 
• perception 
• realization 
• recognition 
• sense